*PGCEA Offices will be closed March 16-April 24th. Should you need help staff is available by phone 301-736-2700 and email at contacts@pgcea.org
March 29, 2020
Dear PGCEA Members,
Thank you for all of the calls, emails, social media contacts. So much is happening so fast but we wanted to brief you on what we know for sure. This Corona Virus is very serious. We have had several members test positive for the virus. Please pray for the family of Professional School Counselor and Basketball Coach Terrence Burke of Northwestern High School who passed away Friday from the effects of the Corona Virus. If you have questions about your status, please call your primary care doctor.
School Closure-Governor Hogan and MSDE Superintendent Karen Salmon announced Maryland Schools will be until April 24. During this time, your pay will be uninterrupted and all benefits will continue. That means you will be paid during the duration of the closure. When the closure ends payroll will resume normalcy. This is a pandemic crisis and only time will tell.
At our March 23 Board of Directors conference call meeting, the Board voted to utilize members of our negotiations team to begin negotiating on Distance Learning and Contract Language surrounding the closure. On Friday, March 27, 2020, our team met with Dr. Coley, Dr. Kara Libby, and Dr. Judith White Friday morning via Zoom to look at the draft PGCPS District Learning Plan. Here is the calendar. The Plan announces at Friday Night’s Emergency Board of education meeting will be rolled out in phases.
Modified 2019-20 School Calendar
· March 30th:
End of 3rd quarter marking period.
·
March 30th
–
April 3rd:
Students turn in completed assignments. Students unable to submit assignment form 3/16-3/27 will not be counted against them and grades will be entered as exempt.
· April 6-8:
Teachers will input grades into SchoolMax for the 3rd Quarter. April 6-8 will be considered workdays without children. They are grading and planning days. No student instruction during these days. The days will count in toward the 180 days in the state and our contractual 192 days.
·
April 9th, 10th, and April 13th:
Non-duty days for Teachers
·
April 14th:
Fourth quarter and online learning will begin
·
June 2nd:
Primary Election – Schools are closed should there be an in-person voting primary election. If a mail-in only voting option is selected, then there will be a school day for students.
·
June 9th:
Last day for students
· June 11th:
last day for 10-month employees
*May receive a waiver for March 16-27th (no charging of SLB days)
The past two weeks-
Work from students for the last two weeks should not be put in SchoolMax. If students are given credit as extra credit, that is fine, but otherwise if it is not complete- it is exempt.
This past week PGCPS surveyed Parents about technology. There were 56,000 responses to the survey and while many have access many don’t. PGCPS is working with Comcast and Verizon to provide Internet Access to students. I am trying to get the same for educators for the next few months.
The first two weeks will be an assessment of need and distribution of technology to students. The system is planning to distribute Chrome Books. These two weeks will teachers follow-up with parents who did not respond to survey, Professional Development on Distance Learning and three grading days.
The Distance Learning final draft is not ready for distribution. We are supposed to see the final version Monday morning. Here is what was released. The next two weeks will be implementation and training on Distance Learning (Continued Learning). Continued Learning will begin on April 14.
From Dr. Goldson’s presentation Friday, as we move into implementation, clearly there are going to be issues regarding SPED. ELL, and non-classroom based members including guidance, ILT, mentors, occupational therapists, speech pathologists, PPW’s, school psychologists and others. We will be monitoring and sharing information as it becomes available.
Additionally, we are working to address other areas that impact you, including the needs of graduating high school seniors. We will do our best to answer every question and offer additional guidance in the coming days and weeks. In the meantime, we will continue meal service and share enrichment packets and other resources using our website, social media channels, e-blasts, text messages and PGCPS-TV (Verizon 38/Xfinity 96). The school system will be providing updated programming on Verizon 38 Xfinity 98
The system will use Social Media to push out info and alerts
Video Visits
All employees and their eligible dependents enrolled in PGCPS health plans are eligible for video visits, allowing you to consult with a board-certified physician from your smartphone, tablet or computer from the comfort of your home. CareFirst member information. Kaiser member information
. Customer Service at CareFirst: 1-800-296-0724 or
www.carefirst.com
If you need support during this time there is help and you are not alone.
You can call Employee Assistance Plan
By phone:
1-800-346-0110 24 hours a day, 7 days a week
Or go Online:
- Go to: Inova Employee Assistance Program
- Enter the username PGCPS
- Enter the password PRINCE
Please remind your circle of influence that while this is an emergency, PGCEA is teleworking Monday-Friday 9 AM-5 PM. 301-736-2700 or contacts@pgcea.org. We have set up a Corona Virus page on www.pgcea.org
Stay safe, practice social distancing of 6 feet, and if you feel you need to get tested, call your primary care provider.
In solidarity,
Theresa Mitchell Dudley
President
